I’ve always slept until the last possible moment every morning. I’ve been a snooze button pusher, a bargainer, a beggar. Just ten more minutes…no, then just five? Please?

But, every morning, for the past several months, I’ve forced myself out of bed at 6:00, a full hour before my children will wake and eagerly greet the day.

I roll out of bed, fumble for my glasses, hold my breath, and tip toe down the hall, past the kids’ rooms, ever fearful of waking them.

I descend the stairs and find Craig in the office, kiss and wish him a good morning, and while we exchange morning pleasantries on the way to the kitchen, “how did you sleep?”, he pours me my first cup of coffee.

He heads back into the office and I settle onto the couch, snuggle with my cozy blanket, and delicately lift the lid of my laptop.

And for one hour, one blissful hour, I sit in the complete quiet, with only the blue glow and the tapping of keys from my laptop and I slowly, but happily begin my day.

I open Twitter, WordPress, and Google Reader.

I savor my coffee…coffee that in just a few hours will be more about survival than taste and appreciation.

I spend these stolen moments floating from one place to another, reading, commenting, savoring.

I claim these moments for myself, because once those 60 minutes are up, the remaining moments of my day are filled with preschooler plans and toddler babble, coloring and tower building, memorizing my children and enjoying them in each moment.

If I skip these moments for myself, I am often less patient and more resentful of the endless demands of motherhood.

So, while I love sleep, I rub my eyes, stretch my sleepy body, and I get up. Because, well, because I love me, too.

What do you do each day that’s just for you? How do you take care of yourself so that you can take care of others?

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29 comments

My favorite time of day is when its just me up … I turn on a lamp, make my coffee, look in on the two sweet sleeping heads … and enjoy the beginnings of the morning.
Its a good peaceful start, a little me time … now could Craig pop over and get my coffee pot going … with Ian travelling so much and all

I feel better if I run or workout (almost) every day. I am at my best when I do it in the morning (like 5 am) so that I come home to a quiet house; that also means I can steal a little bit of time each evening, after the kids are in bed, to write or read. (Ryan studies at night about 7-8 months out of the year.)

Oh, that hour alone sounds SO blissful and fantastic! My daughter always moves into our bed with us somewhere in the middle of the night and I can never disentangle myself without waking her, so no early-morning alone time for me…yet. But one day it will happen!

Your description make it sounds spa like! What a great way to start the day! And then to be able to focus on your kids and family, knowing that you have taken some you time…that is a gift, both for them and to yourself.

sugarbowlmix

11:55 am, Feb 17, 2011

I envy those who can get up early. It does sound like a blissful hour. But I have such a hard time getting out of bed in the morning. My 6 yr old wakes me up most mornings and then climbs into bed with me for a few minutes before we start our day. Exercising is my me time. Especially the 3 mile hike up the fire trail near my house. But I don't do it every day. I should.

Sigh, I so want that hour.
I have to grab minutes here and there. I'm at work by 4 or 5am five days a week.
But those other two days? Yes I spend my early hours alone. Hubby dear sleeps late. So twice a week I can really spend time with my "social network".

I am SO much like you. I don't like to get up in the morning…but I need to follow your lead. Because, when I am awakened by 4 wild boys, I tend to be cranky, and then try to steal moments on my computer throughout the day….which is a double-edged sword. I want to be on my computer…..I want to play with the kids. I need to force myself to get up in the quiet hours so my day can be devoted to my most prized treasures….my boys!

I get up at 6:15, make my teenager's lunch and then plop at the table with my laptop while he eats and gets ready for school. He doesn't really need me there, but he likes knowing I'm there, so it works for both of us. I usually only get 30-45 minutes, but it's something!

So true, I think you definitely need a moment to yourself. I hate waking up too but I try to do it every, or almost every day so that I can have all the little things done to get myself ready before my daughter wakes up for the day.

It took me going back to work to realize that I can feel just as rested getting up at 6:30 as I do when I sleep until 8. I hope to keep the early wake up even through the summer. I'm not sure if I'll be able too. That bed is so comfy, sometimes that seems like the best way to take care of me!

Couldn't agree more! You always need to find a little me time – even if it means giving up some sleep!

momwentcrazy

8:03 pm, Feb 17, 2011

You know, I always do that. I'm not a morning person, so I make that time at the end of my day. After everyone else goes to bed, I grab a glass of water and just sit. I can do whatever I want. After listening to the kids and hubby all day I like to sit in silence. No music or tv on, just my computer or a book. I'm glad you have that time. I think it is so important.

That's so lovely. I love early mornings – or at least I used to. I'm not far enough past total sleep deprivation to even be able to contemplate getting up a second earlier than I have to. I never used to be a snooze-button pusher or a bargainer but I am now.

Okay. I think I really need to start doing this. My kids sleep until 7:30ish and I sleep until they are awake. But the way you just described this hour…I NEED this hour. I usually have my quiet time at night but I am too dang tired to get anything really accomplished!!